Book Review of
75 Years of the Israeli Air Force
Vol. 1: The First Quarter Century 1948-73
Middle East @ War Series No. 28
Helion Books
Author: Bill Norton
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $29.95
Helion Books
Author: Bill Norton
Copyright 2020
MSRP: $29.95
Following on from their highly successful Africa @ War series, Middle East @ War replicates the same format – concise, incisive text, rare images and high quality color artwork providing fresh accounts of both well-known and more esoteric aspects of conflict in this part of the world since 1945.
In May 2023 Israel will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding as a state and also the 75th anniversary of the establishment of its air force.
The maturation of what was once the Israel Defense Force/Air Force (IDF/AF), and since 2005 is the Israeli Air Force (ISAF), is a fascinating study of a military force working to meet shifting obligations under multiple impediments while being repeatedly tested in combat.
Many factors over the seven and a half decades shaped its air fighting capability , not the least being the demands of the evolving battlefield., uncertain funding, available weapons', and quality of personnel. Tactics and doctrine were, in turn, shaped by government politics, international pressures, and confronting adversaries likewise evolving.
When the trials in war, or combat short of war came, success was a measure of the weapons’ suitability, relevancy of training, and experience of personnel.
This mini-series documents the evolution of the Israeli Air Force throughout its history by examination of all of these factors. It stands apart from many other books in performing this examination in a more dispassionate and critical manner, without the common hyperbole. A great deal of space is devoted to description of constant shifts in the equipment – especially aircraft and other weapons – and its organizational structure over time.
A summary of the geopolitical milieu in which Israel and military institutions have dwelled over the 75 years helps to explain the material acquisition and tactical choices, while placing in content the operations in which they were employed.
Written at a time of historical challenges for the Israeli Air and Space Force, and the Israeli Defense Forces as a whole, this exclusive, highly informative and richly illustrated volume, the first of a three –volume –series, charts the Israeli Defense Force/Air Force from its inception until the close of the 1973 war.
In May 2023 Israel will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding as a state and also the 75th anniversary of the establishment of its air force.
The maturation of what was once the Israel Defense Force/Air Force (IDF/AF), and since 2005 is the Israeli Air Force (ISAF), is a fascinating study of a military force working to meet shifting obligations under multiple impediments while being repeatedly tested in combat.
Many factors over the seven and a half decades shaped its air fighting capability , not the least being the demands of the evolving battlefield., uncertain funding, available weapons', and quality of personnel. Tactics and doctrine were, in turn, shaped by government politics, international pressures, and confronting adversaries likewise evolving.
When the trials in war, or combat short of war came, success was a measure of the weapons’ suitability, relevancy of training, and experience of personnel.
This mini-series documents the evolution of the Israeli Air Force throughout its history by examination of all of these factors. It stands apart from many other books in performing this examination in a more dispassionate and critical manner, without the common hyperbole. A great deal of space is devoted to description of constant shifts in the equipment – especially aircraft and other weapons – and its organizational structure over time.
A summary of the geopolitical milieu in which Israel and military institutions have dwelled over the 75 years helps to explain the material acquisition and tactical choices, while placing in content the operations in which they were employed.
Written at a time of historical challenges for the Israeli Air and Space Force, and the Israeli Defense Forces as a whole, this exclusive, highly informative and richly illustrated volume, the first of a three –volume –series, charts the Israeli Defense Force/Air Force from its inception until the close of the 1973 war.
THE BOOK:
Helion Books is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover, of 88 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The front cover shows a color photo at the top of a F-4E “Phantom” flying over the Israel countryside. It is in a camouflage of a wave pattern of tan and dark-green. It has a black nose and small black no. 114 on the sides of its rudder. It carries the Israeli Air Force white circle with black 6-pointed “Star of David” on it under the cockpit.
At the bottom of the page is a color side-profile illustration of a Spitfire. It is in a wave pattern camouflage of two shades of Green, with alternating horizontal black and white stripes across its rudder. It carries the fuselage white no. 15 and the Israeli Air Force 6 pointed star in a white circle on its sides.
On the back cover there are 2 more color side-view illustrations. One is of another Phantom the other is of a Skyhawk. Both are in the tan and dark-green wave pattern camouflage, with black noses. The Phantom has small black no. 183 on the side of its rudder and the Israeli Air Force six pointed star insignia on its sides.
The Skyhawk has black no. 758 on the sides of its rudder and alternating black and white stripes across its rudder flap.
The book contains 111 black and white photos. These include:
Photos of early aircraft (sometimes with their pilots posed next to them) Shown are::
Two photos of a RWD-13, 2 photos of the Tiger Moth, a photo of a Austor AOP, a photo of a Taylorcraft, a photo of a Fairchild Argus, a photo of a Noorduyn Norseman, a photo of a Dragon Rapide, 2 photos of a Beech Bonanza, a photo of a DC-5, a photo of a Norecrin, a photo of a Haviland Dragon Rapide, a photo of a Curtis Commando, a photo of an ex-Czech Avia S-199, 3 photos of a B-17, a photo of an former Swissair C-47B Dakota, 5 photos of a Spitfire, 4 photos of a Piper Cub, 2 photos of a P-51 Mustang, a photo of a North American AT-6 Harvard, 2 photos of a Stearman Kaydet and a photo of a long row of Mosquito FB-6’s.
Later year aircrafts shown are:
Two photos of a Meteor Jet fighter, 2 photos of a Ouragan, 5 photos of a Mystere IVA, a photo of a Mosquito PR-16, 2 photos of a C-47, 6 photos of Voutow, a photo of a Hawk surface to air missile, 7 photos of a Mirage IIIC, a photo of a Matra R.530 radar-guided air to air missile, a photo of a Safrir radar-guided air to air missile, 2 photos of a Dornier 270, a photo of a Pilatus Turbo-Porter, 2 photos of a Noratlas “Flying Boxcar”, 2 photos of a Boeing Strato-cruiser, a photo of a Sikorsky s-58 helicopter, a photo of a Cesna 180, a photo of a C-141A, a photo of a Mig-21F-13, 2 photos of a Magister, 2 photos of a Ouragan, a photo of a Super-Mystere B2, 6 photos of a AF Skyhawk, 5 photos of a Phantom F4E, a photo of a C-130H, 2 photos of a Boeing B-377, a photo of a Cessna, 2 phtos of a Sikorsky S-65 helicopter, a photo of an Alouette helicopter, a photo of a A-4N, a photo of a Ryan “Firebee” drone, a photo of a Northrop Chukar 1 surface to air missile, a photo of a TA-4H, a photo of a C-97, a photo of a ORC-490 mass-quantity flare/chaff dispenser, a photo of a Norde U-306, a photo of a Alouette Jetranger helicopter, a photo of a wrecked jet fighter.
There are black and white photos of the following individuals:
Air Force Commander Beni Peled, Major General Moti Hod, the first commander of the Israeli Air Force Israel Amir, Air Marshall Aharon Remez, Madi Alon Commander of the 101st Squadron, Defence Minister David Ben Gurion, Navy Commander Shlomo Shamir, Air Force Commander Haim Laskov, Air Force Commander Dan Talkowsky, Wing Commander Ezar Weizmann, President Yitzhak Ben Tzvi.
For color photos there are:
Three photos of a Voutour, a photo of a Mirage IIIC-J, a photo of a Boeing B-377 airliner, a photo of a C-37B, a photo of a Dornier DO-26 and a photo of a Bell 205 helicopter.
For color side profile illustrations there are:
A Auster A.O.P., a Avia S-199, a P-51B “Mustang”, a Piper Cub, a C-47, a Mosquito TR Mk. 33, a Meteor F.Mk. 8, a Mystere IVA, a Sikorsky S-58 (H-34) helicopter, a Fouga CM-170 Magister, a Dornier Do-270, a Votour 11A-421, a A-4 transport, a Skyhawk and a F-4E Phantom.
The book also contains 4 maps that show where air bases were in Israel in 1948-49, 1956, 1967-and 1973.
There is a single map of the Middle-east, a 5 page bibliography, 5 data lists and a page of Acronyms and abbreviations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
William J. Norton is retired from a flight test engineering career that spanned 40 years, including 20 years as an Air Force officer. This included service as aircrew aboard test aircraft. He has held numerous positions in many organizations on dozens of aerospace program spanning all aircraft types.
He has penned scores of technical papers, seventeen books, and a multitude of magazine articles. Bill holds a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering and has taught technical courses at the college-level. In addition, he is a civil pilot with numerous ratings, restored and operates a DHC-1 “Chipmunk”, and built as a Rutan Long-EZ.
This book will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
Highly recommended.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Helion Books. All Helion Book titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web address at:
Helion Books is based in the UK.
This book is soft-cover, of 88 pages in 8 ¼” x 11 ¾” page format.
The front cover shows a color photo at the top of a F-4E “Phantom” flying over the Israel countryside. It is in a camouflage of a wave pattern of tan and dark-green. It has a black nose and small black no. 114 on the sides of its rudder. It carries the Israeli Air Force white circle with black 6-pointed “Star of David” on it under the cockpit.
At the bottom of the page is a color side-profile illustration of a Spitfire. It is in a wave pattern camouflage of two shades of Green, with alternating horizontal black and white stripes across its rudder. It carries the fuselage white no. 15 and the Israeli Air Force 6 pointed star in a white circle on its sides.
On the back cover there are 2 more color side-view illustrations. One is of another Phantom the other is of a Skyhawk. Both are in the tan and dark-green wave pattern camouflage, with black noses. The Phantom has small black no. 183 on the side of its rudder and the Israeli Air Force six pointed star insignia on its sides.
The Skyhawk has black no. 758 on the sides of its rudder and alternating black and white stripes across its rudder flap.
The book contains 111 black and white photos. These include:
Photos of early aircraft (sometimes with their pilots posed next to them) Shown are::
Two photos of a RWD-13, 2 photos of the Tiger Moth, a photo of a Austor AOP, a photo of a Taylorcraft, a photo of a Fairchild Argus, a photo of a Noorduyn Norseman, a photo of a Dragon Rapide, 2 photos of a Beech Bonanza, a photo of a DC-5, a photo of a Norecrin, a photo of a Haviland Dragon Rapide, a photo of a Curtis Commando, a photo of an ex-Czech Avia S-199, 3 photos of a B-17, a photo of an former Swissair C-47B Dakota, 5 photos of a Spitfire, 4 photos of a Piper Cub, 2 photos of a P-51 Mustang, a photo of a North American AT-6 Harvard, 2 photos of a Stearman Kaydet and a photo of a long row of Mosquito FB-6’s.
Later year aircrafts shown are:
Two photos of a Meteor Jet fighter, 2 photos of a Ouragan, 5 photos of a Mystere IVA, a photo of a Mosquito PR-16, 2 photos of a C-47, 6 photos of Voutow, a photo of a Hawk surface to air missile, 7 photos of a Mirage IIIC, a photo of a Matra R.530 radar-guided air to air missile, a photo of a Safrir radar-guided air to air missile, 2 photos of a Dornier 270, a photo of a Pilatus Turbo-Porter, 2 photos of a Noratlas “Flying Boxcar”, 2 photos of a Boeing Strato-cruiser, a photo of a Sikorsky s-58 helicopter, a photo of a Cesna 180, a photo of a C-141A, a photo of a Mig-21F-13, 2 photos of a Magister, 2 photos of a Ouragan, a photo of a Super-Mystere B2, 6 photos of a AF Skyhawk, 5 photos of a Phantom F4E, a photo of a C-130H, 2 photos of a Boeing B-377, a photo of a Cessna, 2 phtos of a Sikorsky S-65 helicopter, a photo of an Alouette helicopter, a photo of a A-4N, a photo of a Ryan “Firebee” drone, a photo of a Northrop Chukar 1 surface to air missile, a photo of a TA-4H, a photo of a C-97, a photo of a ORC-490 mass-quantity flare/chaff dispenser, a photo of a Norde U-306, a photo of a Alouette Jetranger helicopter, a photo of a wrecked jet fighter.
There are black and white photos of the following individuals:
Air Force Commander Beni Peled, Major General Moti Hod, the first commander of the Israeli Air Force Israel Amir, Air Marshall Aharon Remez, Madi Alon Commander of the 101st Squadron, Defence Minister David Ben Gurion, Navy Commander Shlomo Shamir, Air Force Commander Haim Laskov, Air Force Commander Dan Talkowsky, Wing Commander Ezar Weizmann, President Yitzhak Ben Tzvi.
For color photos there are:
Three photos of a Voutour, a photo of a Mirage IIIC-J, a photo of a Boeing B-377 airliner, a photo of a C-37B, a photo of a Dornier DO-26 and a photo of a Bell 205 helicopter.
For color side profile illustrations there are:
A Auster A.O.P., a Avia S-199, a P-51B “Mustang”, a Piper Cub, a C-47, a Mosquito TR Mk. 33, a Meteor F.Mk. 8, a Mystere IVA, a Sikorsky S-58 (H-34) helicopter, a Fouga CM-170 Magister, a Dornier Do-270, a Votour 11A-421, a A-4 transport, a Skyhawk and a F-4E Phantom.
The book also contains 4 maps that show where air bases were in Israel in 1948-49, 1956, 1967-and 1973.
There is a single map of the Middle-east, a 5 page bibliography, 5 data lists and a page of Acronyms and abbreviations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
William J. Norton is retired from a flight test engineering career that spanned 40 years, including 20 years as an Air Force officer. This included service as aircrew aboard test aircraft. He has held numerous positions in many organizations on dozens of aerospace program spanning all aircraft types.
He has penned scores of technical papers, seventeen books, and a multitude of magazine articles. Bill holds a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering and has taught technical courses at the college-level. In addition, he is a civil pilot with numerous ratings, restored and operates a DHC-1 “Chipmunk”, and built as a Rutan Long-EZ.
This book will be of great interest to aircraft modelers and aviation historians alike.
Highly recommended.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers, the North American distributor of Helion Books. All Helion Book titles can be viewed on Casemate’s web address at: